Thanks to the vision and generosity of Ron Lykins and his late wife Ruth, and with contributions from many Jefferson Alumni members or their families, six deserving graduating seniors were awarded $500 scholarships at the Jefferson Alumni meeting on May 27. The Jefferson Alumni funded one scholarship and Ron Lykins funded the Dr. James P. and Suzanne Branham Scholarship and the four Don and Flo Armstrong Memorial Scholarships were funded by Ron and members of the Armstrong family.
The 2017 Jefferson Alumni Scholarship recipient was Cortney Spires, a graduate of Peebles High School, where she earned a 3.58 GPA. In her senior year, she participated in an internship at the Adams County Regional Medical Center and she plans to pursue a career in nursing. Her immediate plans are to attend Southern State Community College to earn an Associate’s in Nursing to become a Registered Nurse. She hopes to pursue a Bachelors Degree at the University of Cincinnati with a long term goal of becoming an obstetrics nurse. Cortney is the granddaughter of Patricia Hamilton Spires, class of 1968, the great-granddaughter of the late Corrine Preston Hamilton, class of 1939, and great-granddaughter of Phyllis Johnson Spires, class of 1949, who has been a loyal Alumni member with her attendance, service and research.
The four Don and Flo Armstrong Memorial Scholarships were awarded to the following deserving students:
Haley King graduated from West Union High School and attended the Ohio Valley Career and Technical Center her junior and senior years, studying Cosmetology to enable her to get a job after high school. She has been accepted at Hocking College and her plan is to work part-time in order to pursue her education in Nursing with a long-term goal of becoming a physical therapist. She has set goals that are challenging but is willing to work to achieve those goals. Haley is the granddaughter of Tressie Brown Stricklett, Jefferson class of 1962.
Kira Gifford is a graduate of West Union High School, taking dual credit college classes as a junior and then full-time classes at Shawnee State University as a senior. She maintained a 3.82 GPA while working a part-time job 20-30 hours per week. She has been very active in the school music program as well as a member of the Academic Team, National Honor Society, and BETA Club. She plans to attend Shawnee State University for the next three years to become an Intervention Specialist to fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. Kira is the granddaughter of the late Robert M. Gifford ,class of 1958, Estelle Evans Gifford, class of 1961, and the great-granddaughter of the late Machen Gifford, class of 1934, who taught at Jefferson.
Gavin Reeves is a graduate of Eastern High School where he was captain of the soccer team and was named Most Improved as a sophomore, earned the Warrior Award as a junior, and was Most Valuable Player as a senior. He was SHAC All-League and First Team All-District. He was active in band, a member of the National Honor Society, and was the Warrior Mascot. He has worked at the Hosea Soup Kitchen and he participated in a mission trip to Jamaica. He plans to attend Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind. to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Entrepreneurial Business Management. Gavin is the grandson of Dan Nichols, Jefferson class of 1955, and great-grandson of the late Thomas Stepp, class of 1938. In addition, his late great-grandfather, Tony Nichols, was head custodian at Jefferson for many years.
Raeanna Stamm is a graduate of Manchester High School where she had a 3.31 GPA. She was active in FFA and track as well as basketball ,where she was a team captain. She earned her Green Hand and Chapter degrees in FFA and participated in several community service projects. In both FFA and basketball she learned that hard work pays off. In the summer of 2012, she went to Science Camp and this has led her to choose Environmental Science as a career choice. She plans to attend the University of Rio Grande to pursue a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science so she can have a career where she can work and enjoy the outdoors. Raeanna is the granddaughter of Ray McCarty, class of 1963.
The 2017 recipient of the Dr. James P. and Suzanne Branham Scholarship funded by Ron Lykins in memory of Coach Branham and in honor of Susie May Branham is Krista May. Krista is a graduate of West Union High School where she earned a 4.0 GPA. As a junior she took college and high school classes and in her senior year she was full-time at Shawnee State University while working part-time. She was Reporter for FFA, a varsity cheerleader, and a member of BETA Club. She volunteered as a mentor at West Union Elementary and for the Cincinnati Autism Speaks Walk. Her plans are to attend Ohio University to pursue a degree in Child and Family Studies, which could lead her to work in pediatric care or with children born to mothers with addictions. Krista is the granddaughter of the late David S. May, class of 1965, and the great-granddaughter of the late Orvy D. May, class of 1934, and the late Jessie McHenry May, class of 1933.
Since the inception of the scholarship program in 2003, there have been 85 scholarships awarded at the Jefferson Alumni. These scholarships have been made possible by the continuing generosity of many alumni members and their families. The Jefferson Alumni Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit and contributions are tax deductible.
To make a contribution so the scholarship program can continue, send a check to Teresa Lewis, Secretary/Treasurer at 113 Anderson Hill Road, Blue Creek, Ohio 45616. If you wish your donation to be in honor of or in memory of someone, please note that.